Frances Mae Williams

Frances was born to Fred Stevenson and Cleo Robinson Stevenson February 4, 1931 in Shreveport Louisiana. She was the second oldest in a household of four siblings, Douglas, Melvin and Clyde. Her only surviving sibling is her half sister Doris Pipkins.

Frances lost her mother at the age of 12 and she took over running the household for she and her three brothers. They lived next-door to their grandmother and uncles who made sure they had the things needed to survive. The high school that she and her brothers attended made sure they got the assignments needed in order to graduate with their class.

 She met Elijah Williams her future husband when he moved to Shreveport living up the street from her. Elijah and Frances courted while they were in high school and once Elijah enlisted in the Air Force he came home proposed married Frances and off they went. Frances and Elijah married in January 1948 when she was 16 years old and Elijah 18 years old. They were married for 76 years.

After marrying they moved to Vallejo, California, San Francisco California, Biloxi Mississippi and settled in Riverside California. Their oldest child Linda Ruth Williams was born June 4, 1949 in San Francisco California and their youngest daughter Lolita Elaine Williams was born June 5, 1951 in Biloxi Mississippi.

Frances has always been an excellent wife and mother. She entered the workforce working part time at Kristi's dress shop in Riverside. She then went to work at Bourns doing assembly work for a period of time. She then went to work for Aerojet General. Frances always did things to help keep the family running smoothly even while Elijah was away on assignment.

Frances went on to work for JCPenney company managing the children's department for years. Frances’s next job opportunity was at security Pacific national Bank where she studied in the evenings at RCC to get her AA degree in Early Childhood Education.

After attaining her degree Frances opened William's daycare on Howard Avenue in Riverside. The daycare was so popular that the city requested she change the business to a preschool in order to continue servicing the number of children that were attempting to enroll. Frances then ran ABC Wonderworld Preschool for 23 years only closing when she decided to retire.

Frances and Elijah bought a home in Perris California where they were able to garden and enjoy a lifetime of fun together. They moved to Mira Loma when the stress of maintaining the home and the yard became too much.

The family moved together to a home in Ontario when Frances started to need assistance with daily chores. After six and one half years of living together as a multigenerational home Frances was called home July 18, 2025. She left with a smile on her face as she went home.

Park Avenue missionary Baptist Church has been their home church for many many years. Even the years when Elijah was reassigned to other bases out of California the family maintained a relationship with Park Avenue missionary Baptist Church which was home for them.

Frances was a deaconess with Park Avenue holding the position of chairperson many years as well as  the secretary of Sunday school while being part of a choir at Park Avenue and working with children in any capacity asked of her.

Frances loved to recruit people for positions in the church many of whom are there today happily working in positions she recruited them for.

Frances is survived by her husband of 76 years, Elijah Williams; her youngest daughter Lolita Barnard; and her granddaughters Shalaan Monet Dungey and Rev. Dr. LaKisha Barnard. She is proceeded in death by her oldest daughter Linda Ruth Williams.

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